"We're young, we live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, we might as well have fun while we can," Zooey Deschanel's character says in "500 Days of Summer," the film that's a paean to the visual charms of Downtown Los Angeles. Deschanel, co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt and director Marc Webb talk in this video about L.A. playing a crucial character in the movie. Downtown beauties such as the Fine Arts and Bradbury buildings and the Continental get featured billing in the film. The Redwood even shows up. Follow the link for a clip of the Civic Center Mall as stage for a Bollywoodesque dance scene from the movie.

Selected reviews:
A.O. Scott, NY Times
Michael Ordoña, LA Times
Rotten Tomatoes

Observed: Downtown is getting a good cinematic ride this year between "500 Days" and The Soloist — and the latter's Steve Lopez was at our showing tonight at the Arclight. Coincidence #2: leaving Canter's a bit later, we ran into Eric Lynxwiler and the Neon Cruise stopping in for refreshments.